Grim up North!!

Not a great deal of success last week I'm afraid and I was gutted at how poorly LANDSCAPE ran when I was so confident of a big run! The only liitle bit of success was WOODFORD COUNTY'S third in the Eider! We win some, we lose some. As I'm sure all of you are, I'm counting the days down to the festival – bring it on! Had such a busy week this week with work and I'm looking forward to kicking back and watching this sport we all love today. Whatever your we earned dosh is on, good luck and I hope you get a shout and win some back of the old foe.

The twitter gamble boys have opted for these four today – give them a follow again and I hope today is the day their four timer comes in.

@Tonythetyke –

@Fernando_RFC2 – FILFIL 1555 MEYDAN

@LiamKenniford – SOUND INVESTMENT 1525 NEWBURY

@DazGilbert1 – KAI BROON 1535 KELSO

Here are my selections :

MON PARRAIN 1545 DONCASTER (nap) (Unplaced = -£5.00)

Showed his true class when winning for the blog at 25-1 on New Years Day at Cheltenham. I was really confident of him that day and I know some of you were on him too! I'm even more confident he can take this today! He has been raised 6lbs for his win, but I still think he is a better horse than he new mark and there is more to come. These types of races over longer distances that need him to be bold and brave bring out the best in him. There are other front runners who will push him too today. Sean Bowen returns and takes 5lbs off to help our cause more yet for me the biggrst factor is the ground, he loves good ground! Sit back and enjoy!

SOUND INVESTMENT 1525 NEWBURY (nb) (WON 7-2 = £12.25)

Paul Nicholls has won 6 of the last 9 runnings of this and today my selection can make it 7. I backed him last night at 5-1 and as I type this he is 11-4 in places – the money is coming! He is a smart horse and has some decent form in the bag; beating DOLATULO at Sandown and running well in fifth beihnd THE YOUNG MASTER over a distance too long. He drops back in trip today and the ground will help, he has a big weight to carry but is the best horse in the race for me.

ROALCO DES FARGES 1415 NEWBURY (treble) (unplaced = -£5.00)

He is two from two here, and if he reproduces that or his Cheltenham run back in October he will win is easily in my opinion. The concern is his last two runs which have been a little poor to be honest. He's been dropped 2lbs by the handicapper to OR140 and that is still a mark he hasn't won off. However, the opposition are the key; there Re no young upstarts here! Horses his own age or older are there to be taken! Horses for courses – he should run well today!

KELVINGROVE 1510 DONCASTER (unplaced = -£5.00)

BATAVIR is a decent horse but can he win three on the bounce after a 13lb hike form win one, I dont think so. My selection ran well when beaten by a short head by PULL THE CHORD in January and was then upped in trip at Haydock and ran well in a good race. The key for me here again is the ground. I think he will improve loads for the better ground, having won on good to firm on the flat!